Page 9 - eMuse Vol.9 No.02_Classical

far away. We had to wait re- for a large public funeral.
turn of tide. Anchored under
the mangroves; got on the reef. Unjust retribution
Very calm. News spread like wildfire.
October 7 Settler retaliation raids were
Made for another island made on the local indigenous
four or five miles from the one population. Up to 50 people
(Above) Ruins of Watson’s stone spoken of yesterday. Ashore, were killed (folklore probably
house on Lizard Island. (Right) but could not find any water. more accurately says 100). Fur-
The tank Mary Watson used now their taboo of women and chil- Cooked some rice and clam-fish. ther compounding this tragedy,
on display at the James Cook dren in this place. Moderate S.E. breeze. Stayed those murdered possibly had
Museum. Tribesmen attacked Ah Sam here all night. Saw a steamer northing to do with the events
and Ah Leung in the vegetable bound north. Hoisted Ferrier’s on Lizard Island.
repute and the finest restaurant garden. The latter was killed pink and white wrap but did not Tragic Ironies
in North Queensland (or even outright and Ah Sam received answer us. Although they looked for
Australia for that matter). seven spear wounds. October 8 water on Watson Island, Mary
There was a wide spread Mary persuaded the attack- Changed anchorage of boat and Ah Sam never found it. Lit-
belief he employed attractive ers to depart by firing a gun. as the wind was freshening. tle did they know a concealed
young ladies and schooled them She knew the reprieve would Went down to a kind of little spring existed not far from
in speaking with a French accent be temporary. She could not lake on the same island (this where they died of thirst.
and he taught them the scandal- hold her advantage for long. done last night). Remained here The story of this tragedy
ous dance the can can. Young all day looking out for a boat;
Mary played the piano here Escape did not see any; very cold night; made Mary such a folk hero lo-
when she filled her free time Hastily gathering a small sup- blowing very hard. No water. cally. Her fame spread to make
her an example of everything
from teaching Bouel’s children. ply of food and water, she put to October 9 to be admired in the courage of
Mary Marries Capt Watson sea in an iron tank, used to boil Brought the tank ashore as pioneer women.
During her musical duties beche de mer. On board with far as possible with this morn- Her funeral which became
she met and married bêche de her were her baby and the badly ing’s tide. Made camp all day Cooktown’s biggest public event,
mer fisherman Capt. Robert F. wounded Ah Sam. Mary hoped under the trees. Blowing very uniting the town in appreciation
Watson. After a short whirlwind she would be picked up by a hard. No water. Give Ferrier of her undaunted spirit.
romance, they married at Christ passing vessel. No such luck. a dip in the sea; he is showing A monument to her was
Church, Cooktown on 30 May On the Island she kept a di- symptoms of thirst, and I took a erected in Cooktown. Perhaps
1880. ary which records the events up dip myself. Ah Sam and self very this is the ultimate irony. It is a
The newly weds settled into to their hasty departure. It was parched with thirst. Ferrier is drinking fountain.
their fishing station on Lizard left behind. While adrift in the showing symptoms. Both of Mary’s diaries are
Island which they regarded as tank she continued to record October 10 held in the John Oxley Library
totally uninhabited. the tragic detail of their ordeal Ferrier very bad with inflam- and her bible is in the Queens-
Mary briefly returned to in another makeshift diary. mation; very much alarmed. No land Museum.
Cooktown for the birth of their Mary’s Diary’s fresh water, and no more milk,
son, Thomas Ferrier 3 June In the first diary, Mary re- but condensed. Self very weak; Treacherous?
1881. (In her diary Mary refers cords how their troubles be- really thought I would have died Racist attitudes of the era
to Thomas as Ferrier.) At the gan on 27th September. The last night (Sunday). are present in almost all reports
end of June she returned to Liz- second diary found later in the October 11 of these events. Ah Sam’s signif-
ard Island with baby Ferrier. tank goes on: Still all alive. Ferrier very icant courageous role is hardly
In September Robert left on Left Lizard Island October much better this morning. Self mentioned. Most speak of the
an extended fishing trip. Mary, 2nd 1881, (Sunday afternoon) feeling very weak. I think it will “treacherous natives”.
Ferrier, and, two Chinese serv- in tank (or pot in which beche rain to-day; clouds very heavy; Such negative terminology is
ants, Ah Sam and Ah Leung, de mer is boiled). Got about wind not quite so hard. No rain. a regular ploy of the often inac-
were left behind. three or four miles from the Liz- Morning fine weather. Ah Sam curate, misleading, emotional

Guugu Yimithirr ards. preparing to die, have not seen language used by Journalists,
historians and story tellers.
him since 9th. Ferrier more
Only a few short weeks after October 4 cheerful. Self not feeling at all Truth is they were merely
the departure of Robert and his Made for the sand bank off well. Have not seen any boat people following their laws to
partner, Percy, a group of men the Lizards, but could not reach of any description. No water. protect a sacred site and the lo-
from the Guugu Yimithirr people it. Got on a reef. Nearly dead with thirst. cation of a source of edible oils
made one of their habitual sea- October 5 found in sting rays, sharks and
sonal trips by canoe to the island. Remained on the reef all day Bodies Found goannas there.
Naturally these traditional on the look out for a boat, but All three died of thirst be- Through disregard, or lack of
custodians of the island rightly saw none. tween 11 and 12 October on knowledge, the Watson’s paid
took a dim view of intrusion of October 6 Howick No 5. The island was an awful price for not showing
a stone structure being built of Very calm morning. Able to later renamed Watson Island in respect for local laws and cus-
their sacred ceremonial ground pull the tank up to an island her memory. toms about this place. But, as
right there beside the island’s with three small mountains on Their remains were discov- we stated at the start, with no
only supply of fresh water. it. Ah Sam went ashore to try ered in January 1882 by the crew exceptions, ignorance of the
Further compounding this to get water as ours was done. of the Kate Kearney and soon af- law is never accepted as an ex-
outrage to their tribal laws, There were natives camped ter were brought to Cooktown cuse.
Mary and her baby violated there, so we were afraid to go by the Water Police magistrate
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